Greens candidate quits over Facebook posts

By Melissa Iaria

November 1, 2018 — 9.22am

Greens candidate Joanna Nilson has pulled out of the Victorian election after the discovery of damaging Facebook posts from 2015.

Upper house hopeful Ms Nilson posted tips about stealing groceries, called Liberal MP Michaelia Cash a "disgusting smug parrot" and referred to stinking of "the weed in my bag" in a series of posts to a Facebook group called the Bad Gals Club, according to News Corp.

Former upper house Greens candidate Joanna Nilson.Credit:Twitter

"I regret making these comments, and while they were made several years ago, in jest online, and are in no way reflective of my beliefs or actions, I don't want them to be a distraction," Ms Nilson said in a statement.

"I have resigned as a candidate, and the party has accepted my resignation."

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The Greens had preselected Ms Nilson behind party leader Samantha Ratnam on its ticket for the Northern Metropolitan Region.

A Victorian Greens spokesman said the party accepted the resignation.

"Joanna regrets making these comments and has done the right thing by resigning as to not distract from the campaign," the spokesman said.

The party is now looking to finalise a replacement candidate in coming days.